Angular modulation



M. H. MESNER.

' ANGULAR MoDUL-ATIoN 'Sept 6 Sheets-Sheet l Filed Oct. 19, 1944 i D 1111 l( Smk H mmh oo www A TTORNEY 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 M. H. MESNER ANGULAR MDULAT'ION Slept. 30, 1952 Filed oct. 19, 1944 MKSUNQU JNVENTOR MAX MES/VER BY y A TTORNEV SP, 30, 1952 M. H. MESNER 2,612,534

f A NGULAR MODULATION Filed 001,. 19, 1941.4 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 ATTORNEY Patented Sept. 3G, 1952 i tinnen/starr 'rsNT oFFics Max H. Wiesner, lrineeton, N. J., assigner to Radio Corporation ci' America, a corporation of Delaware ,Application October i9, 1944, SerialNo. 559,469

This application concerns ,a new and improved method and nieans'ior modulating the angle or velocity or timing 0i oscillatory energy.

2s claims. (el. 33am-25) Means is usually provided to stabilize the mean The general broad object of my .invention is improved timing modulation of oscillatory energy. f 1 i 1 A second broadobject of my invention is improved phase modulation of ultra highirequency wave energy.

` A third broad object of my invention is improved frequency modulation of ultra high irequency wave energy.

Timing modulation systems known in the prior art can be divided into classes including these general classes. `Systems wherein the oscillatory l energy is of constant frequency such as derived from a crystal `controlled oscillator or `similar means, and the oscillatory energy isphase modulated a limited amount by means of a balanced nmdulaftor,and a` 90 phase l shifting network.. 'l'o obtain phase modulation which is the equivalent of frequency 'modulation the modulation is modied inversely in accordance` with Hits irequency before it is applied to the balanced modulator. Since such modulation is linear for phase i shifts equal to about i30 `frequency multiplication of an orderoi times is necessary Vto obtainthe iinal `deviation requiredin presentr day broadcast systems. `This arnountol multiplication `necessary to satisfy requirements can not be obtained in onestage and users of this system are obliged to use additional crystal'generators to heterodyne the multiplied currents down for further multiplication. an advantage a stabilized centerirequency so that v,usually elaborate frequency control means is not necessaryl These systems have the disadvantage of requiring a large amount of multiplicano. thus entailing the use ora large number ci multipliers operating in stagesbetweenwhich heterodyne stages V'a'rerequired tobring ,the frequency down. so that the nnalfreduency -isy as de,-

These systems haveV as sii-ed. `This`use ofadditional crystal oscillators adds to the complexity of the system andv also l reduces the overall stability thereof. il, .l 4 vAnother general class of modulators make` use oi oscillation generator thefrequency oiwhicli controllable and is modulated in `accordance ith the signals-` A larger ,amount of modulation `1s accomplished in vthis case and the multiplica-A tion problem encountered in the` systems de;l scribed above is not present. However, inlthisl case, `the oscillator being controllable is a rather unstable scurceand `is apt to drift in'frequency n so that its mean frcquencydoes not remain hired.

frequency. This means is usually elaborate and expensive and is an undesirablefeature.

An object of `the vpresent invention is to pro-V vide a timing modulated system wherein the i modulated oscillatory energy is of substantially `fixed frequency, such as, for example, would be derived from a crystal'controlled oscillator and wherein linear modulation through a wide angle of the order of 360 is feasible. In other Words, an object of this invcntion'is to provide a system that has the main advantages of the two general types of systems described hereinbefore and yet.

has none of the disadvantagesthereof.

An additional object of this invention is to proide .more direct phase or frequency modulation than has been the case in systems known in the prior art. This permits use of a simple, inerpensive tube and circuit arrangement.,

A further object of the present invention is phase modulation of a carrier of substantially xed mean frequency wherein a wide degree, of linear modulation is obtainable to thereby` reduce the'number of frequency multipliers necessary in the system, to produce the desired phase swing or to produce equivalent frequencymodulation through awide range.

In attaining the above objects and others y which will appear hereinafter, Iy make use'lof a beam tube of the commutatortype described in lams et ,al. U. S. application Serial #4921558,`

iiledjJune 25, 1943, now Patent No. 2,454,652,

granted November 23, 1948, or in Snyder'U.

application Serial #588,046, liled April 12, 1945i, or of thetype disclosed in Snyder Serial.#6 00,498,

iiled June 20, 1945, now Patent No. .2,454,410f

granted .November 23, i948. [The commutator tubes, as described more in detail byflanisfet al.,

and by Snyder inV his iirst mentionedfjapplication co'rnqarisey two electron beam or ray producing;` systems with deecting` electrodesforileach 'll-he target in` an embodimentrcomprises va fairly large beam anda target swept by both, beams.

nmnberof strips of conductive material insulated each from the other across whichfboth. beamsv are swept transversely at di'fierfent; points on ithe target, One 4beamis designated as thefput-'on beam and provides means for storing chargemi the target orchanging `the charge thereon.r `The i v other` beam is designated' as-the take-o beam and discharges thetarget or changes'thecharge thereon.` 4The discharge provides current which operates in a load impedance toprovide the out-V` In the disclosuresorthe applications re- .d to above, the target iscomposed 'to a mica f charge.

sheet across which are parallel insulated platinum stripsy which are electrically oating. -On

the back side of the mica is a platinum coating' which is called the signal plate, andvwhich may bev the output of the tube arranged for connection to following stages.v Two necks of the tube contain the electron guns so mounted that their beams impinge upon opposite ends of the target and sweep across the strips near their ends. A conventionalhigh velocity beam is used for the put-on side, which sweeps across the strips and upon striking knocks oif secondary electrons Vwhich are attracted to a collector. The individvual strips are thus given a positive charge. In

the Iams et al. arrangement the second beamis supplied with the correct fields to make the beam strike the target with zero Velocity so that the same number of electrons are emitted as were furnished by the second beam (no net change);

--but if the strip on which it strikes has been charged the electronsare'v used to neutralize the This discharge actuates the amplifier grid and the signal is amplified.

The lcommutator tube invented by Snyder and l disclosed' in the above kidentified application is j broadly' similar to that disclosed by Iams et al. in f the above identied Iams application. In the tube [of Snyders invention,` however, both beams Aare of high velocity, whereasjin'ams ket a1. the put-on beam is of high Velocity while the take-off beam a is of low velocity. Otheressential differences between the two tubes will appear hereinafter.

In my application, the put-on beam is de- `flected in kaccordance withthe modulation so f vthat the extent of its sweep and the number of strips charged (or discharged) is determined by the amplitude of the signal. The take-off beam which is'swept across all of thev strips at the carv rier frequency rate discharges Vthe charge (or revcharges the discharge) put on by the put-on beam. The'period of discharge is a function of In all other principles involved, the same will now be described. vIn this description reference will be made to thefattached'drawings wherein Fig. 1

, y `villustrates a'targetl suitable for use in the put-on takefoff beam tube. y

" FigsgI-gahd Beach illustrate somewhat in dev y,tailrr'iyA improved timing modulation system in- The" Figs. 2 and 2a show graphically what takes place when a modulation current and a radio frequency current are applied to the put-on gun, and illustrate the manner inv which the impulses of Fig. 2b are derived as an output from thesystem.

Figs. 4, 4a, and 4b are respectively, a modulation wave which it is assumed is deflecting the put-on beam, a carrier wave which is deflecting the take-Cif beam, a. pulse output in the absence v ment the voltage -sweeping'the take-off beam across the target is shown as being of sawtooth form, and it may be derived as described in connection with Fig.` 5. It may be of sine wave form and blanking may be applied as in Fig. 1.

` Referring to Figs. 1 and 3, I2 designatesgenerally the put-on beam electrode assembly, and I3 designates generally the take-off` v,beam electrode assembly. In Iams et al. disclosure referred to above, at 12 is produced a high velocity beam and at 13 is produced a low velocity beam. The high velocity beam elements comprise a cathode I6, a control grid I'I,"a first anode I9, a second anodeyZIL deflecting plates r22, athird anode 23, a target or storage screen 3 I, and a collector or signal plate electrode 33. Horizontal deecting plates 2I may be included in the tubev structure for preliminary. beam focusing and @centering adjustment. The operating potentials shown are given only by way of example, since obviously in practice other values may be used.

Thestorage screen 3|,- shown as viewed from l the cathode in Fig. 2a, comprises a plurality of linsulated conductive'strips which are located at r right angles to the sweep of the beam produced vby electrode I6 and also at right angles to the beam 'produced by the other beam producing electrodes Iat I3. The screen 3| is preferably curved andpoints on its surface are about equal i distances fromthe electron source, the said screen cludingthe electron beam tube system of the put- 1 jon, take-01TV beam type, such as disclosed and claimedlin the Vaforementioned `Iams et al. Aand [Snyder applications.. In'Fig. 1 the voltage for .sweeping the take-off beam across the target is of vrsine wave form andthe system includesmeans,

to beused where a certain amount of linear pulse phase deviation'i'sidesired, to blank-off'the takeoff beamon asmuch of the sweep as desired. In 4the embodiment of Fig. 3, the take-olf beam sweep current is .of sawtooth wave form to give a large n pulse phase deviation.v Means 'is also provided @here to modify the ymodulation currents so that equivalent-.FM is produced for multiplication. y

Fig. 1a illustrates 'by curves the character of 'the deilecting andblanking voltages in the embodimentof Fig. 1., Y, f

being in the form Vof a cylindrical surface, vthe radius of which is at the center of deflection of theelectron beam deflecting electrodes 22.' The 'high velocity beam producing assembly perse is in general similar to the high velocity television pick-up tubeknown as the Iconoscope.

The beam producing structure at I3 has an y electron beam source 36, a control electrode 31, a screen 'grid or anode39, a beam concentrating anode 4I horizontal beam centering and focusing electrodes 42, a secondanode 43, and twoframelike-electrodes and 41 for slowing down the electrons after they leave the region of the second anode 43. The cathode is at ground potential and the electrodesa arranged and operatedto produce a low velocitybeam (similar to,...V

,'Orthicon), which. is swept transverse to the *length of the strips of the target 3I in accordance with loscillations applied to the deflection r plates 50, Figs. 1 and 3. Deflection plates,y are -desirable in this application in preferencev to a `rset of` deflecting coils owing to the high frequencies involved, This is more especially true trons of the take-off beam as they are returned from the target electrode 3l may supply' the output, as described by Iams etal.. In my system, outputs as described in said applications may be used. Moreover, the target 3l maybe homogeneous rather than being` comprised` of parallel conductive strips.` For' example,` the storage target may be a sheet of mica. The put-on beam charges a spot on the mica.' Since the mica is an insulator. the kcharge does .not spread. The take-01T beam is .directed to scan the same place that the put-oirbeam scans thereby discharging the'y charge put on `o5/the put-0n beam. The two beanrLaXes are arranged to converge the beams on the" one spot. In' order to facilitate tracking the beams the `trace may be broadened from a line to a band by deflection in the crosswise direction; or by using an elliptical spot. This embodiment is in other respects similar to the embodiments described in detail hereinafter. i

In the Iams etal. system the beamv deiiections are centered bypotentials applied to the horizontal plates at 2l, andthesweep voltages are applied to electrodes 22l in such a manner that the beam is deiiected entirely across the screen 3l. The signal is `applied to. the control grid H to modulate the beam intensity and the signal is put on the screen at the sweep rate. The defiecting elements 553 (Figs. l and 3) are so operated that the take-off beam is likewise deflected across the other end ,of target 3i and the signal is taken oif at the rate at which the tal eoff beam is deected. U

In my improved system, I utilize this commutator tube for the purpose of phasernodulating a radio frequency signal in faccor'dance with voice or 'other signals.` The used` output may be pulse energy which varies in pulse phase in accordance with the signal. The output may be of sine wave form `the phase of the wave energy being modulatedin accordance with the signals. `In this embodiment the phase modulated pulses `excite a tuned circuit from which this conventional form phase modulation is derived. In a further embodiment, the" rhodulation potentials are modified inverselyaccordance with their frequency so that phase' modulaH tion equivalent to frequency modulation is produced.

In accordance with my invention 4the voice signals from source Eil are applied'in pushmpull relation to the deflection electrodes 22 so that the beam is swept across a number of the strips of target 3l, depending upon thefamplitude of the modulation signals. The take-off beam is swept entirely across the target El by oscillatory energy applied fromvsource 'lil tothe' take-ofi deilecting elements 5G. is the radio frequency energy, andsupplies'the carrier frequency of the phase modulated'pulse output. The output is taken from the signal plate 33 o1' a collector electrode arranged; in accordance with prior teaching in the cathode This oscillatory energy i ray tube art. These oscillations for deectng the second beam may be ofsine wave form (Fig. l), or of sawtooth wave form (Fig. 3), as will appear more in. detail hereinafter..

Assume that a modulating current 'of the wave form shown in Fig'. 2 is applied to the deflecting elements 22 of the put-on beam to sweep the same at right angles to the axis of the strips of the commutator tubes target 3l. This wave form may represent `voice signals. The put-on beam grid isadjusted to give a beam aisuitable intensity to thrOW'onthe target vil a suitable spot. Since there is no deiiection of the electron beam along the axis' of the strips of target 3|, the beam is` merely` `jumping or sliding up and down `at an arudio'rate and with a displacement from zero orfrest position, depending upon the amplitude ofthe audio signal. For example, when thetaudiolcycle is of an amplitudes, the beamwill bemoved up to strike the target, Fig. 2a, at thefpointo, for an amplitude b" at the point b, and' for an amplitude c at the point c. (The points cub and `c at the target are shown' displaced for convenience. In practice they would be'along` the same vertical line.) The take-off beam is swept in a path at right angles tothe strips on the target 3l, and at the other end thereof at say a radio frequency of wave form indicated in Figl`2, the target is discharged eachtime the beam sweepsthereacross at radio frequency. -In other words, the take-off beam current is adjusted to `a valuesuch that the value of a charge (-1- or putonfby the put-on beam is completely. wiped `off with a single sweep ofthe take-off beam. This means that "as the'talre-off beam` sweeps across in a radio `frequency cycle it discharges the target each time, and that the charge put-onbetween successive sweeps will occur at the phase of the radio frequency cycle represented by the position of the put-on beam during the time when the take-off beam crossesv the target, `or in other words, bythe amplitude of the audio signal. As this audio amplitudechanges the pulse obtained from theaction ofxthe target will change in phasebecause the charge causingfit will be stored at a diiere'nt'spot onlthe` commutator target. In other words, t'liei.takeofi beam reaches 4'the charged pointl orstrips on the target at a different point in the radio frequency cycle when the put-on beam ismoved up and down in accordance with the modulation. The output will appear across resistance 'lrld'igs 1 and 3, and will be designated in Fig. 2b.

Where a homogeneous target is'` used at il as described above, the beams are arranged to fall on the same spot onthe target (say mica), and the` operation is in general about the same as when a target comprised of parallel conducting strips isused. v

In thesystem described. above the maximum frequency output is limited to the top band width at which the equipment may be made to operate successfullypi. e., the frequency is limited to the highest frequency at which the take-on beam may beswept across the target. The phase pulse modulation output may bel used as desired and the phase deviation may approach 369'. The output taken from theV impedance 'it may be amplified and used asl phase modulated pulse energy, or may be resonated in tuned circuits and thereby converted to'phase modulated wave energy of sine'waveform. i f

If desired, the phase modulated pulse obtained as indicated above in connection with Figs. l

and ;3 :may .be used `to vexcite .a frequency multiplier. andIgthen transmit .a more .or less standard phasemodulated signal. The .harmonics `predominating in the pulse output areof suilicient strength for vgood frequency multiplication. The desired 4multiplication 'is obtained Aby multipliers in units 14 and .16. Phase :modulated oscillations of sine wave form are supplied `to the power amplifier `18.

The lmodulating potentials 'used tto deflect the put-on beam may .be :modified inversely `in accordance with their frequency byknown apparatus .included 'in 6.4. .,Fig. .'3. so :that Vequivalent frequency Vmodulation isiderived and after multiplication a frequency modulated output of wideYV deviation is obtained. Multiplication :here .is accomplished as described :above by feeding the output from .15 tocascaded :multipliers .i4 and 16, and kthence to a. powerqamplifler .'l'.. 'The pulses at .15 shock excite tuned circuits zin the multiplier .stages and .frequency modulated wave energy .of sine lwave `:form .is derived. The Afrequency multipliers per Y.se may be `conventional and will .not be described in detail herein. Y

.The radio frequency take-off beam sweep volt-v age .may be .supplied .in various ways. f :I may use a sine wave as the .take-oil :beam deflec'ting voltage and may :use more for less of 'thev sine wave cycle. By selecting a part .of the wave form which is linear .a fair amount .of ...linear phase modulation `is obtainable. Then @the .arrangement :may be such that `the take-01T beam is blankedmff during the rest-of the sine :Wave cycle. frequency may .be such .as to :sweep the take-off beam across the target during thelinear portion of the cycle `and off the target during the rest of the sine wave cycle.

In a further 4embodiment .I may use .a sawtooth .deflecting wave. The 'phase deviation may be limitedfto say va vsmall part of .the sawtooth cycle, say m25", .in which case the :steep sides and sharp-.corners 'thereof neednot bev used. The

return sweep time isshort and lnoiblanking `voltage is necessary. Moreover, I may useonlyithe linear portion in 'the center of the wavel For accurate full `cycle saWtooth .operation ..100 kc.

is perhapsrthe present lpractical .limit from an engineering standpoint. By :using only the best :25 -of the vsawtooth and "letting the nrest "be deecting the take-off beams outside 'the ktarget limits, `then a r-sawtooth several .times this frequency may be used without `requiring vamplifiers of unusually great band Width.

In the arrangement illustrated in Fig. 3, the source connected with `the y.deflectingelements 50 is of sawtooth Wave form, and the amplitude thereof Ais made .such that ithe take-off ibeam is deflected across the target during the linear portion of the sawtooth wave and beyond the target limits by the .non-.linear portion thereof. When a sawtooth ofgood vform `is used `.the operation then `is as illustrated in Figs. 4, 4a and 4b. In this ligure, I have assumed the R. F. cycle Vis idealized, and .being of perfect sawtooth form. This provides .a pulse phase Ishift of 360". In the absence ofmcdulation .the Vput-on beam vspot is at' rest on the horizontal axis .of 'the .target-at the gput-on beam end thereof. .and the output derived when the sawtooth Wave form voltage is applied to the deflection elementsfis an indicated in the .top .line of FigAh When the modulation` is applied Ato thedeflectinggelements 22 .the put-on beam :is swept in accordance with Vthe modulation cycle and during Alternatively, .the voltages of sine wave vtime b' it sweeps the beam across the section of .the target vvdesignated b. During this time the radio frequency cycle passes the beam across the entire :take-off section of the target to produce a pulse Ib', as 'shown in Fig. 4b. Notev that the phase of the pulse is changing in accordance with the `amplitude of the audioicycle VandV that `this pulse phase may change through 360. When the spot is on .the center target atrest the pulse output is .of constant phase, `as `shown in the` upper 'line ofFg. .4b.

By producing a linear ysawtooth Wave .at the fundamental .frequency at 12 v(79.876 kc. in the case illustrated), and Vapplying Athe same to the deflection elements 5,0, linear phase shifts in the pulsecoming from the signal plate 33 exceeding 300 Vare practical. The fundamental equation AF=fAt (where F is center frequency; f is signal audio frequency at `unit 60; AF is frequency excursion one side of center; and A0 is phase displacement one sideof center, expressed in radians), allows the calculation of the equivalent FM. Since for a `fixed maximum frequency deviation, A0 is greatest for the lowest audio frequency to'be transmitted unattenuated, 50 C. P. S. will :be assumed as a minimum audio rate. Then or .the 79.876 kc. mstrated.

The correct amount `of 'modulation will be attained Vby adjusting the amplitude of the signal on .the puton`.beam deflection elements 22 so that itneverexceeds 2AF=(50) :2c 4.2 0.11. s.;

A'or the R. F.'v sawtooth deflection. Thus, by

using-a large A0. need for large multiplication, and for heterodyning is eliminated. As can be seen from the circuit arrangement vof Fig. 3, the equivalentFMis produced `from `a single crystal oscillator, whichcan .be 4'made .sufficiently stable. and modulation produced quite simply by lthe commutator tube. This is directly multiplied along with the frequency without necessitating a heterodyne circuit. The development .of this cir cuit as illustrated .should serve greatly to remove many of. the complications from FM 'transmitter design.y My novel .modulator including the comi mutator tubemay vbe put to general use as an exciter in' many presently known and used systems wherein .a chain .of multipliers and amplifiersis excited kby va phase modulator using modulation .potential correction .to produce equivalent frequency modulation. The 21:1 multiplier might consist ,of a conventional multiplier stage in Which'the plate tank is tuned to 1677.4 kc. with band pass circuits, the high value of single stage multiplication being feasible because of the high harmonic content of the pulses placed on the grid. If the put-on spot size were made to cover about l/o of the target, then the resulting pulse width would be very close to 1/2 cycle of the 1677.4 kc. wave or .3 micro-second and the pulseoutput of the C. T. would have an extremely strong 21st harmonic. The spot size is discussed in detail hereinafter.

Circuits wherein the modulating currents are modified inversely in accordance with their fre- QUGHCY and preemphasized are known in the art, and no claim to the same per se is made herein. These circuits which need no detailed description are included in unit Gli. The purpose of the circuits is to correct for AF -=Aa f when AF is fixed (by convention) then AAin creases as f decreases. The

network then gives the same phase swing for higher frequency as for C. P. S.-this is conventional PM practice. x

The sawtooth generator of unit 'l2 per se may be conventional. For example, I may use any sawtooth generator, of the many known in the prior art, as long as the essential requirements outlined above are met. Preferably, I make use Y denser i. Resistor 3l is a conventional screen grid voltage dropping resistance that is by-passed by condenser S l Resistor 82 is the plate load resistor. The voltage appearing on the plate of tube 'il is coupled by condensers B3 and 84 to the grid of tube 85. Resistor 8'6 acts as a D.C. return and resistor 81 forms a differentiating circuit in conjunction with condenser 83. For tube 85 the cathode is grounded by resistor 88 bypassed by condenser 89. Variable resistor-9U is the plate load and condenser chargingA resistor. Condenser 9| is the sawtooth capacitor. The output is coupled to the video amplifier 94 which furnishes pushpull video to the take-olf centering and deection circuits.

The operation is as follows: Sine wave voltage at a carrier frequency rate (in the case illustrated 79.876 kc.) is produced by the crystal controlled oscillator and amplied by a conventional radio frequency amplifier to a suitable value. Tube 'li is a harmonic generator, or to put it differently, a square wave generator. Square waves are produced by the clipping action of tube 1I. On the positive Swing the tube is driven into grid currentV where, by the dropping action of resistor' i4, `the more positive portion of the cycle reaching the grid is clipped `giving a sine wave l() with most of the positive portion flattened. On the negative swing the tube is driven to plate current cut-off whereby the other half oi the sine wave (as it appears on the plate load resistor 82) is clipped. Both halves have been clipped and a square wave results which is rich in harmonies. This square wave is fed to the differentiating circuit 83 and 8l'. The lower frequencies are eliminated by the filter action of the circuit leaving the high frequency components which appear in the form of positive and negative pulses. Triode 85 is biased to cutoff by the bias developed on resistor 88 plus that developed by grid current on resistor 36. For this reason the negative pulse then has no appreciable eifect but the positive pulse causes the tube to conduct bringing the potential at connection s2 down to a value slightly above ground level.

After the pulse has been completed, the tube resumes its cutoff condition and condenser 9! then charges positively from the plate `supply through resistor @il in an exponential manner. If allowed to charge indefinitely, terminal 92 would eventually charge to a value equal to the plate supply voltage. However,` if the time `con-- stant of resistor 9U and condenser 9i is large enough, the condenser will have charged positively only a small amount bef-ore the next pulse occurs. The pulse initiates the discharge of condenser El through tube B5 as before. Thus since only a small portion of the exponential charging curve is used, the sawtooth is'nearly linear. Since resistor Sill is adjustable, it furnishes a control of amplitude and linearity. The sawtooth thus generated is .amplified by the video amplifier 911. A video frequency amplifier is used to pass the high frequency components appearing in the sawtooth. Since push-pull deflection is preferred, the video amplifier as shown contains a phase inverter tube and a push-pull output tube. These above described circuits are conventional pulse practice.

, When the wave energy used to deflect the takeoif beam is of sine wave form, `blanking on the grid ofthis tube structure for a portion ofthe f deiiection voltage cycle may be used. In'the ernbodiment illustrated in Fig. l, for example, I make use of one slope of the sine wave and use the most linear `part of the cycle, say for about i223", or a porti-on thereof of this order, :as indicated at 96 in Fig. la. For the rest of the sine wave cycle I blank off the take-off beam gri-d. Since the deection is stretched to ll the target for the i25 used, the blanking pulse does not have to be one with steep sides, being only necessary to blank off thef-return portion. In this Way the amplifier and circuits for 'blanking may handle BOU 4or 400 kcyor possibly higher Without requiring such greatband width topass harmonics. In order to stretch the deflection the sine wave voltage from lll is amplied in T2 the desired amount and the initial biasing potentials on the defiecting electrodes are of a value such that the take-off beam traverses the full width of the target 3l during the selected linear part of the sine wave cycle. l

The means for supplying the blanking voltage to the control grid 3l! will` now be described with reference to Fig. l of the drawings.

It is desired that a pulse be generated which will switch the takefofbeam on byidriving the storage tube grid positive and that the on period will coincide with the more nearly linear portion of the sine wave. This is shown in Fig. la as being the portion immediately about the A.C. axis of the wave. 1 t i i clipped by tube |05. Resistors and |03 actin conjunction with the condensers to produce the desired phase shift. Resistor |04 aids the yclipping.y vvThis clipping action is described in the `speciilcation of the sawtooth generator, this being a similar pulse forming circuit. Since the grid is swung from past plate current cutoff beyond a grid current condition, la square wavek results on the pl-ate load resistor 0. The catho-de circuit is completed through yresistor |06 and condenser |0`|. Resistor |09 and condenser |08 form the` usual screen grid dropping circuit. This square wave is passed into the differentiating circuit composed of condenser and resistor ||2 resulting in the :usual alternating positive and negative pulses appearing on the grid ci ||3.

Pentode ||3 `is operated with a h igh bias created by resistor H4 in the cathode, condenser ||5 by-passing the A.. C. Because of this the negative pulse from the difierentiator is clipped oil? and the positive pulse 'is' amplified and appears as a negative pulse on the plate load resistor H8. Resistor ||1 and condenser ||B are the usual screen components. This negative pulse is then fed to tube |2| which is operated with a bias not quite so near cutol as tube H3.

A proper value of resistor |22 in the cathode assures this. The sharp peak on the wave is clipped as the grid swings past cutol leaving to be amplied the unclipped part of the pulse near lthe axis. A vresulting squarev top steep sided pulse of positive polarity appears on lead resistor |26, the plate of |2|, and likewise on the take-off grid of thek storage tube. This p-ositive pulse on the grid then allows the beam current to ow for the pulse duration at which time the chosen portion of the sine wave that occurs at this time has caused the take-ofi' beam to be dellected across the target. The width of the pulse i's controlled by the selection of the time constant for the differentiating circuit C| and RI. The phase modulated pulsesv repeating at 400 kc. may be used to excite the tuned circuit of a first multiplier supplying cascaded multipliers which boost the frequency of the phase modulated carrier to the desired ultra high frequency range. This embodiment is of particular importance where simple modulation circuits. are required, or for modulation of police and c-ommunication transmitters.

In Figs. 1 and 3 the electron beam tube system which produces the take-off beam is of the low Velocity beam type, while the put-on beam electrode producing system is of the high velocity type. In a preferred embodiment of my invention both electron beam tube systems are of the high velocity type. This embodiment has been illustrated in, Fig. 6. In the embodiment of Fig.'6 the wave energy controlling the deflection of the take-off beam isfshown as being of sawtooth wave form. It will be understood that wave energy of sine wave form may be used here as in Fig. 1, and also that wave energy of sine wave form and blanking voltages may be used with the tube wherein' both beams are of the high velocity type. In other words, the storage tubez using the high velocity 'electron beams of Fig. 6. may replace thestoragetubesusing-the high velocityputon beam andthe:v low velocity take-01T beamofFigs. l and 3; s e l In Fig. 6 the separate-electron: guns of the storage vtube are vsimilar in Vmany respects to many cathode ray tube guns. In this ,gurethe reference numerals correspond in sov far as possible to the reference numerals used inf Figs. l and 3. The grids and 31 of both tubes arefpcontrolled by ,controlling the potential thereonwith respect to the cathode. Note that in the arrangements` illustrated the cathode is at a negative potential with respect to groundl and that the control grids are at a higher negativepotential. The control grids andA 3lare connected'to the taps on potentiometers |5| and. |5|. The anodes'V |.9fand 4|` are used to focusfthe beam and are; connected to taps on potentiometers` |53 and |53 respectively. Note that the anodes here are connected in substantially the same manner in which the anode I9 is connectedu in Figs. l and 3. The second anodes and 39 are connected to ground. The beam intensity lpotentiometers and the focusing potentiometers are connected in the form of a voltage divider across a source of potential the positive terminal of which is grounded. The deflecting electrodes 22 and 50 are connected to centering lresistance networks and |55 respectively. These deilecting electrodes sweep the beams across the targets 'as in the prior embodiment so thatgt-he beams traverse the conductive elements ofthe target. The centering adjustment of the beam increases or decreases the voltage difference between the plates s 22 and between the platesv 50 without changing the mean voltage which is kept at ground or second anode level. The twopotentiometers of the centering adjustment |55 may be mounted on the same shaft and connected so thatone plate rises in potential while the poten;- tial on the other plate isv lowered'. The high velocity tube systems each include collector electrodes and |65. These electrodes are connectedto taps on potentiometers |61 and |61' and operatedin the usual man-ner to collect the secondary electrons struck from the target. Cross-centering of the respective beams-so that they. traverse the desired point on the ytarget electrode 3| f is accomplished by adjusting-the potential on the cross-deflection electrodes |69 and l59"respectively. Potentiorneters and H are provided for adjusting the potentials-'on the cross-deliectng plates |69` and |69 respectively `with respect to ground Aor second anode potential. o. l l f The voltage adjustment of the collectors is provided so that a chargingand discharging action by the beam will take place. If the collector |65 of the put-on beam .is operated positive with respect'togthe collector |65.'ofV the takeoi beam, then Aput-on secondary electrons will be attracted to the collector.llifandA the target strips will be charging positively. VThe takeofl collector |65 then being negative will cause the secondary electrons 4from the take-off beam to stay on the target thereby charging it negatively or effectively discharging the strips. Operation may be had also with the put-on collector electrode |55 negative with respect to the take-oil? collector I 65. In this oase then the-secondary electrons will stay on thetarget strips since the put-on beam collector electrode |65is negative. The vtarget strips will now be charged negatively by the put-on beam as swept thereacross in `a'ccordance with the modulation. The take-off col-'- lector being positive will collect` the secondary electrons struckfrom the target by the take-off beam, thereby discharging the target or effectively positively charging the strips. In either case pulses of the frequency of the wave energy from source 60 appear across 'the impedance 15, as described in detail hereinbefore in connection with Figs. 1 and 3.

In view of the fact that secondary electrons are produced by the put-on beam and the takeoi beam, "a shielding member ll is located within the tube between the put-on gun electrodes and the take-off gun electrodesto shield the same each from the other. The metallic shielding memberllll is operated at ground or second anode potential. In this embodiment also the target 3i comprising the insulated conductive strips may be replaced by a homogeneous target such as for example as would be provided by the mica sheet on which the parallel conductive strips are mounted. Then `as described hereinbefore, the put-on and taire-off beamsare arranged to fall on the same point on the target.

The storage tube Vusing two high `velocity electron beams of Fig.6 is substantially as 'disclosed in Snyder U. S. application` Serial No. 588,046, filed April 12, 1945.

Referring to the Figs. 4, 4a, andflb, it can be observed that if the spot size of the put-on beam is increased the charged areas a',`b, and c" will each increase in size by the amount of the spot increase. Half of this increase Will appear on each side of the area, hence a Wider pulse will result in all cases, which Will still have the same phase relations as far asthe center is concerned. Avwider pulse in some cases would be advantageous for two reasons-the inherent variation in pulse width due to varying slope of signal (audio) frequency wave, would be minimized since the pulse would be wide compared to the variations andsecondly, a Wider pulse might be desirable to tie in Well with the frequency of the first multiplier, as explained herelnbefore.

As far as number of commutator tubeelements is concernerL a better resolution would be needed for the lower frequencies of audio, where each audio cycle is divided up into a greater number of R. F. cycles. At the zero slope part of the sine wave successive R. F. cycles would register no change in phase if the target resolution were poor. `When the spot then moved to the next line a jumpI in phase would occur. The audio cycle would then be divided into stair steps which would means harmonic distortion. At low frequencies these harmonics would fall within the audio range. At higher frequencies the stair-stepping would occur between adjacent R.. cycles and here the ratio of R. F. to audio would be the controlling factor, rather than target elements. In the case illustrated, the 5.3:1 ratio would mean that on the highest audiov frequency of 15,000 C. P. S. the wave would consist of approximately five sections. Here the'harmonies are not harmful, being inaudible and could be removed by a lter. The amplitude of the fun- Y damental would be reduced somewhat but accord- 15,00@ cycles which is on the upper edge of hearing. In addition the amplitude would bevery small.` `This means that then line tubes which 14 l have been constructed would be sufficient for this application. 1

Since there is no side-by-side resolution required as in a television picture, but just a single isolated pulse during each R. F. cycle, the same may be said for the take-01T spot size as is true for the put-on. A larger take-,off spot size than the ,put-on; spot size would mean a wider pulse; so here too it is not critical but a function of the desired pulse width for most advantageous operation of the frequency multiplier.

`1.1m. a signalling system, in combination with a tube having` a target Vcomp-.rising a `plurality vof parallel conductive strips insulated from each other, and an electron beam producingsystem which produces an electron beam which falls on a conductive strip intermediate the outer strips, means for deflecting said beam across said `target in accordance with signals and ina direction transverse to said strips. and means cooperating with said strips'for generating wave energy the phase of which corresponds to the position of the beam spot on the target.

2. In a signalling system, in combination, 'an electron beam producing system which produces an electron beam and projects'the same along a path, a targetcomprising a plurality of parallel conductive strips insulated from each other in the path of said beam which falls on a strip intermediatethe outerl strips, `means controlled by signals for deflecting saidbeam across said strips in a direction transverse to said stri-ps, meanscooperating with said strips for generating wave energy the phase of which corresponds to the position of the beam spot on the target, and means for modifying said signals which control deflection of the beam inversely in accordance with their frequency.

3. In a signalling system, in combination with a tube having a target comprising a plurality of parallel conductive strips insulated from each other, and an electron beam producing system which produces an electron beam and projects the same toward said target, 'means controlled by signals for deecting said beam across said target in adirection transverse to said strips, means cooperating with said strips for generating Wave energy the phase of which'corresponds to the position of the beam `spot on the target, and means for multiplying thefjrequency of said generated Wave energy. f

4. In Valsignalling system, in combination an electron beam producing system which produces an electron beam and projectsthe same along a path, a target comprising a plurality of parallel conductive strips insulated from each other in the path of said beam which fallson a strip intermediate the outer strips, means controlled by signals for deecting said beam Vacross said strips in a direction transverse to said strips, meansv cooperating with saidstrips for generating wave energy the phase of `which corresponds to the position of the beam spot on the target, means for modifying the amplitude of the signals inversely in accordance with their frequency, and a frequency multiplier excited by the generated wave energy. l

5. In an angle modulator in combination,V a storage screen comprising a plurality of parallel conducting strips insulated from each other, means for producing a beam directed toward said strips, signal controlled means for sweeping said beam in a path which traverses said strips, means for producing a secondbeam directed toward said `I strips, means'y Yfox: sweeping. said. lastibeanr across said strips at a carrier frequency rate, andmeans for collecting the energy obtained by the sweep of said second beam.

v 6; In: a signalling. system,. in combinationV with. a'4 tube.' having. a targetonwhich a charge maybe across: said target discharge the same', and. an output circuit` excited by' electrical energy' representative ofthe. chargeonsaidztarget;

'7.v In-l a signalling' system; in combination'. with al tube having a target.comprisingr11-pluralityof parallel conductivev stripsv insulatedV from each other, and first and. second electron beam producing electrodes for producing two beams which strike said target,` beam deflecting. means excited by control potentialsfor deflecting one. beam across said target in a path which traversessaid conductive strips, beam deecting means excited by oscillations of carrier wave frequency for defiecting the other beam across` said target in a path which traverses said. conductive strips, and an output' circuitexcited by electrical energy representative of thefcharge on said target` 8. In a signalling system, in combination, electron' discharge means including iirstfand second electron beam producing electrodes1 for. producing two beams of electrons andl propagating each of the' same along a path, a plurality ofparallel conductive strips insulated` from` each other.- and arranged in a target surface transverse' to said path, beam deectingl means excited bymodulation potentials for deilecting onebea-mii-n a path which traverses said conductive strips.. theextent of the beam displacement from its restposition being a function. of the-,modulation potential, beam deecting meansexcited by oscilla,-

tionsv of carrier wavefrequency for. defiectin'g-.lthe

other beam in a path which traverses said. conf ductive strips and to' an extentisufiicientto'sweep over all of the stripsvtraversedby said onebeam, andan output circuit coupled to said target;

9. Inv a signalling system, in combinatiom elec tron discharge means; including first and second electron beam producing electrodes` for producing two beams of electrons and propagating each of the samey along a path, atargetelectrode including a plurality of parallel conductive strips insulated from each other and arranged in a sur:- face A-transverse to saidl path, beam defiecting means excited by modulationl potentials? for'l de'-4 ilecting one beam in a path which traverses; said conductive strips, the exten-t of the .beam displacement from its rest position being -alfunction lof the modulation potential, beam-L ydeilecting means excited by oscillations' of carrier wave frequency for deecting the other beam' in a path which traverses said conductive strips?y and to an extent. sufficient to sweep over all of 'the strips traversed by said one beam,- means for modifying said-modulation potentials inversely in accordance with their frequency, andrani output circuitcoupled' tofsai'dtarget.

, Vv10. In aA signalling systeiriiinf. combination electroni discharge means including' first and"- second electron be'ain producing' electrodes for iir 5d-`iicr ing' twolv beams of-electrons and propagating eacl'r or' the! saine along' apa-th,- aplurality or parallel c'cfidccti'vefstrips irisuiatdi from-2 sans durer andv arranged atarget surface ltransverse to.v said tent of. thebeam displacement fron-rits rest` positiongbeing av function of the,v modulation potentiaL- beam defiecting means exci-ted'byoscillations of carrier wave yfrequency for dellecting. the other beam in a path which traverses said'fconductive strips and to an extent suiilcient'y to sweep Vover all-'of the strips traversed by said one beam, an

wave.. frequency for deiiecting` the other beam Y outputcircuit `coupled to said target. 'anda a free quencymultiplier coupledV to said output circuit.VY Y Y Y 1i1.y In. an angular-modulation'. system, in4 combination with a tube having a targetelectrode in'- .c'luding a plurality-of parallel con-ductive'y strips wave form and oi carrier Wave frequency for de`- fleeting the other bea-m across said. target in a patlrwhich traverses said conductivestr-ips,V and an output circuit excited by z electrica'di-Y energy repi resentative of the charge on said'targetl 12.` Inan angular modulation' system', in combination with a tube having a1 target' electrode including a plurality of. parallel conductive strips insulate'difrom each other', and first and. second electron. beam producing electrodesl for producing two bea-ms' which strike said targetbeam defleeting. means `excited by control. potentials for deflecting .one beam across said target in' a path which, traverses said conductive; strips,- beamV de'- flecting means excited by; oscillations of. sine wave` form and' of carrier' waveffrequenc'y for de= ilecting the other beam across said target a path which vtraverses saidconductive strips, means excited by said o'scillatons forcutting off said other beam for a part of the sine-wave cycle; and an output circuit excited by electrical en` ergy` representative: of the charge on.V said. target.

'13, In la timing modulation system, atube stru'cture comprising a target, a first beam. producing arrangement' and. deflecting electrodes? excited by modulating potentials for putting-ori said target afcharge displaced from they rest position of the bea-ml on' the target' an amount proper tional to thek modulating potentialamplitude', a secondl beam producing' arrangement andv de'- iiecting elementsl therefor excited; by oscillations ofcarrier wave' frequency for sweeping said sec'-l ondrbeam across said' target and: wiping ofsaid charge, and,y anoutplut circuit wherein. a. current 4IOWs the periodicity ofwhich` is ,thev sweepvfrequency andV thep-hase 'ofi which'y` is' proportional l to the displacement of said. rst beam from' its rest position'.V f

ifi. In atiming, modulation' systennfa: tube structure comprising a targetg. a;A first: beampro'- ducing arrangement anddeilectin'g electrodesiex.

sweeping said second beam acros'ssaidtarget and wiping'- orirv said charge, and an 'output circuit wherein a current Hows the periodicity ofwhich isth'e sweep frequency andthephaseofwhicnls 17 proportional to the displacement ofsaid first beam from its rest position.

i 15. The method of producing phase modulation by'an electron beam tube structure having a target and a put-on beam and a take-off beam which includes these steps, generating a first electron beam, deiecting said beam in accordancewith amplitude varying currents, to cause the same to trace a path on said target to change the charge on the target, the extent of deviation of said path from the rest position depending on the amplitude ofthe said currents, generating a second electron beam, generating wave energy of carrier wave frequency, deflecting said second beam across `the said target once for each cycle of said wave energy of carrier wave frequency to discharge saidtarget, and producing output voltage proportional to the charge on said target.

16. The method of producing angular Velocity modulation by an electron beam tube structure having a target comprising a plurality of electrically separated elongatedparallel conductive members which` includesthese steps, generating a first electron ,beamdeflecting said beam over the surface of said target in a direction transverse tosthe length of said members an extent depending on the amplitude of modulating currents, to cause. the sameto fall at points on said target the position of which with respect tothe rest or no-modulation position depends on the amplitude of the modulation currents, thereby changing the charge on the target, generating a second electron beam, generating wave energy of carrier wave frequency, sweeping said second beam across said target in a direction transverse to the length of the target members once for each cycle of said wave energy of carrier wave frequency to discharge said target, and producing an output voltage proportional to `the charge on said target, the phase of said voltage depending on the extent to which said nrst beam is deected from rest position.

17. In an angle modulator in combination, a storageelectrode comprising a surface, points on which may be charged and discharged, means for producing a beam of electrons directed toward vsaid surface, a pair of beam deflecting electrodes,

a source of signals coupled in push-pull relation to said deecting electrodes for sweeping said beam in a path over said surface an extent depending on the signal magnitude, means for producing a second beam of electrons directed toward said surface, a pair of deflecting electrodes for said second beam, a source of oscillatory energy of carrier Wave frequency coupled in pushpull relation to said last defiecting electrodes for sweeping said second beam over said surface at a carrier frequency rate, and means for collecting the energy representative of the charge on said surface as modified by the sweep of said second beam.

18. In an angle modulator in combination, a storage electrode comprising a surface, points on which may be charged and discharged, means for producing a beam of electrons directed toward said surface, a pair of beam deflecting electrodes, a source of signals coupled in push-pull relation to said deflecting electrodes for sweeping said beam in a path over said surface an extent depending on the signal magnitude, means for producing a second beam of electrons directed toward said surface, a pair of denecting electrodes for said second beam, a source ofoscillatory energy of sine wave form and of carrier wave frequency coupled in push-pull relation to said. last defleoting electrodes for sweeping said second beam over said surface at a carrier frequency rate, and meansfor collecting the energy representative of the charge on said surface as modified by the sweep of said second beam.

19. In an angle modulator in combination, a storage electrode comprising a surface, pointson which may be charged and. discharged, j meansy vfor producing a beam of electrons directedI toward said surface, a pair of beam deiiecting elec-` trodes, a source of signals coupled in push-pull relation to said deflecting electrodes for sweeping said beam in a path over said surface an extent depending on the signal magnitude,l means Vfor producing a second beam of electrons directed toward said surface, a 'pair of deilecting electrodes for said secondbeam, a source of oscilv latory energy of sawtoothqwave form and of carrier wave frequency coupled in push-pull relation tosaidlast delecting electrodes for sweeping` said` second beam over, said` surface at a 'carrier frequency rate, and means forcollecting the energy representative of the charge on said surface as modified by the sweep of said second beam.

20. In a signalling system in combination, electron discharge tube means includingf rst and second electron beam producing electrodes for producing two beams ofelectrons and propagat# ing each of the said beams along a path, a. target,

electrode comprising asurface arranged trans- Verse to said path, points on which surface may be charged and discharged, a source of modulating potentials, a pair of beam deilecting plates differentially coupled to said source of modulating potentials :for deflecting one beam in a path which traverses said target, the extent of the beam displacement from its rest position being a function of the modulation potential magnitude, a source of oscillations of carrier wave frequency, a second pair of beam deflecting electrodes differentially coupled to said source of oscillations of carrier wave frequency for deflecting the other beam in a path which traverse said target substantially along the path followed by said first beam and to an extent suiiicient to include ail of the path of said first beam, a control grid in the path of said last named beam and coupled to said last named source for cutting off said beam on a portion of each cycle of said oscillations, and an output circuit coupled to said target.

21. In an angular` modulation system in combination, a tube having a homogeneous target on which a charge may be built up, first and second electron beam producing electrodes for producing two beams which strike said target in the same area intermediate two of its boundaries to,

inuence the charge on the target, beam defiectduced by the first electron beam producing electrodes, a source of signals coupled with said defiecting elements for deecting one beam across said target in a path the length of which depends on the signal magnitude, other beam deecting elements located adjacent the beam produced by said second electron beam producing electrodes, a source of oscillatory energy of carrier wave frequency coupled to said last named beam deecting elements for deiiecting the other beam across said target along the path of said rst beam and discharging the same, and an output circuit coupled to said target and excited by electrical energy representative of the charge on said target.

221 Inan angularmodulationsystem income;

the'- form'of va surface. pointsl on which ymay, be, chargedand-ldischarged,-frst and second beam.

producingelectrodes for producing twoV beams Whichffall in the same area of said` storage electrodefk beam deflecting 'elements adjacent` the path offone offsaidbeams,. a sourceof signals coupled to. said elements for sweepingrsaid one beam in-a .path which traverses said'storage elec,-l trodeisurface, otherV beam, deilectingv elements adjacent the4 path ofthe other beam, a source of oscillatory energy of. carrierlwave frequency', a coupling-fbetweensaid lastnamed source.y and said other elements for: sweeping the. other beam along a. pathr'substantially corresponding' to the path .oisaid first beam' andata carrier frequency aterra conducting: electrode' coupled tosaid storageffele'ctrode, and anoutput circuit'. coupled to said:` conducting: Velectrode for collecting Venergy representative of'thechargeon said target as altered bythe sweepy of said other beam.

2'3`..In.. an;I angular modulation system incombination,l atube having aI target` comprising a homogeneous surface, rstv andl second- -beam producingelectrodes for producing two-beamswhichfall in thelsame'area ofA said surface, beam de-y fleeting'. elements adjacent-the path of one ofsafid beams, :aisource` .oisignala a coupling between said source. and said-.beam ,deectlng' elements 20"` for.. deiiecting said. one.;beams-inV a .patliwhich traverses said target, theA length of.saidlfpathltde-.

pendinguponthe magnitude-of the signals-,father beam deecting elementsy adjacent. the path-1.01% the other beam', a source of oscillatoryenergyof. carrier wave frequency,1a coupling between said' last named source and said other beam deilecting,

elements for .deilectin'g' the other beamv substan-` tially along saidv first mentionedy path, aconducr v tive electrode adjacent said target surface, and an output circuit coupled tok said conductive-elec,Y trede for. collecting. energy V'representa'title-of the charge on said target .as alter-edby' the deflectionl oisaidiotherbe'am-.LL MESNERM REFERENCEs Ci'rED The; following references# are of @record in' file of this patent: j

UNITED" STTESPATENTS Number y Name' Date.

2,175,573V Schroter Oct. 110,'.19391l 2,201,323 Shelby May 21, 1940: 2,254,036 Gray Aug; 26', 1940y 2,265,145' Clark\ Dec.l 9, 194.11 2,277,516 Henroteau- Mar.24, 19.42 2,290,587 C'Toldstine` Y Y July 21,.1942` 2,294,209 Roder vw Aug. 25,-194'24 

